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UK new LCV sales fall again as supply problems continue
Date: Tuesday, July 5, 2022 | Author: Sean Keywood
New LCV registrations in the UK were down by 23% year-on-year in June, marking the sixth consecutive month of decline.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders shows that 26,443 LCVs were registered during the month, enough to take the total for the first half of 2022 to 144,384, itself a 24.6% fall compared with the first six months of 2021.
The SMMT blamed the decline on continuing new vehicle supply problems, and also the bumper sales seen at the start of 2021, when there was pent-up demand for online delivery vehicles and also a bounce-back in the construction sector.
All market segments saw declines during June, including the leading 2.5-3.5t van segment, down by 16.3% with 20,449 registrations.
Registrations of vans weighing 2.0-2.5t were down by 43.7% to 2,412, while vans weighing less than 2.0t were down by 30.7% with 888 registrations.
Pick-up registrations fell by 37.6% to 2,408, while 4x4 registrations were down by 43.7% to 286.
Battery electric van sales did however see an increase, up by 52.4% year-on-year to 2,015. For the year to date, there has been a 60% increase in registrations of these vehicles, with 8,100 shifted so far.
However, the SMMT says that these vehicles will still only account for one in 13 new vans this year, and that action is therefore urgently needed to boost consumer confidence and ensure uptake is at the speed required for a successful transition in time to meet government emissions targets, including specific commercial vehicle charging infrastructure built ahead of need, in all regions of the UK, along with continued incentives for electric van buyers.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “The impact of the global shortage of semiconductors is severe, constraining supplies and extending lead times for commercial vehicles.
“While electric vehicle registrations are growing in response to an ever-wider choice of plug-in models, a successful transition means accelerating uptake at pace, and this task could not come at a more difficult time.
“With inflation and energy costs hitting the pockets of UK van buyers, as well as the industry, operators need to be assured that charging infrastructure can meet their needs and that fiscal and grant incentives are in place for the long term.”
The UK’s best-selling LCV in June, the Ford Transit Custom, accounted for 3,707 registrations, just ahead of the larger Ford Transit on 3,531.
The top ten was completed by the Vauxhall Vivaro (1,878 registrations), Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (1,480), Ford Ranger (1,319), Volkswagen Transporter (1,153), Citroen Relay (1,061), Ford Transit Connect (953), Renault Trafic (939), and the Peugeot Boxer (884).
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